Phase diagram study of CaBr2–CaHBr system

A study of binary, CaBr₂–CaHBr system was carried out by differential thermal analysis (DTA), covering the composition range from 100 % CaBr₂ to 100 % CaHBr between room temperature and 800 °C. From DTA results, the contour of solidus and liquidus temperatures with composition is plotted and the phase diagram of CaBr₂–CaHBr system is constructed. The system shows an eutectic reaction at 576 °C and the eutectic composition is 79.6 mol% CaBr₂. Co-existing phases in different phase fields are characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis.     

An Efficient Procedure for the Preparation of 3′-Acetyl-2′,3′-dihydrobenzothiazoles by Ring Contraction of 2′,3′-Dihydro-1,5-Benzothiazepines Under Acetylating Conditions

Reaction of 2-benzoyl-6-hydroxy-3-methyl-5-(2′-substituted-2′,3′-dihydro-1,5-benzothiazein-4′-yl) benzofurans (4a-f) with a mixture of acetic anhydride and pyridine afforded 6-acetoxy-2-benzoyl-3-methyl-5-(3′-acetyl-2′-substitutedstyryl-2′,3′-dihydrobenzothiazole-2′-yl) benzofurans (5a-f) as sole products in good yields. A reaction mechanism for the ring contraction is proposed. All the compounds (5a-f) were screened for their antifeedant activity by the “Non-Choice test method” using 6 h prestarved fourth instar larvae of Spodoptera litura F. Compounds 5a, 5c and 5d exhibited highest antifeedant activity.     

A Facile Synthesis of 2-Benzoyl-6-Hydroxy-3-Methyl-5-(2-Substituted-2,3-Dihydro-1H-1,5-Benzodiazepin-4-YL) Benzo[b]Furans

The synthesis and characterisation of some new 1,5-benzodiazepines prepared from 4,6-diacetylresorcinol is reported.     

An elegant protocol for the synthesis of N-substituted pyrroles through C–N cross coupling/aromatization process using CuFe2O4 nanoparticles as catalyst under ligand-free conditions

A simple and efficient, ligand-free C–N cross-coupling of aryl halides/benzyl bromides with trans-4-hydroxy-l-proline has been developed to produce aromatized N-substituted pyrroles, using a catalytic amount of magnetically separable and recyclable CuFe₂O₄ nanoparticles, in the presence of Cs₂CO₃ in DMSO at 100 °C.     

The first fluorescent diboronic acid sensor specific for hepatocellular carcinoma cells expressing sialyl Lewis X

Carbohydrate antigens with subterminal fucosylation have been implicated in the development and progression of several cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Fluorescent sensors targeting fucosylated carbohydrate antigens could potentially be used for diagnostic and other applications. We have designed and synthesized a series of 26 diboronic acid compounds as potential fluorescent sensors for such carbohydrates. Among these compounds, 7q was able to fluorescently label cells expressing high levels of sLex (HEPG2) within a concentration range of 0.5 to 10 microM. This compound (7q) did not label cells expressing Lewis Y (HEP3B), nor cells without fucosylated antigens (COS7). This represents the first example of a fluorescent compound labeling cells based on cell surface carbohydrate structures.     

Copper oxide nanoparticles catalyzed synthesis of aryl sulfides via cascade reaction of aryl halides with thiourea

Recyclable copper oxide nanoparticles catalyzed simple and highly efficient protocol for the synthesis of symmetrical aryl sulfides was developed by the cross-coupling of aromatic halides with inexpensive and commercially available thiourea which was used as an effective sulfur surrogate. The present cross-coupling protocol of thiourea, via cascade reaction with various substituted aryl halides, producing desired aryl sulfides, has an added advantage of avoiding foul-smelling thiols.     

Detecting lateral interfaces with focus‐engineered coherent anti‐Stokes Raman scattering microscopy

Focus‐engineered coherent anti‐Stokes Raman scattering (FE‐CARS) microscopy is used to highlight the lateral interfaces between chemically distinct media. Interface highlighting is achieved by using a HG10 mode for the Stokes laser beam and a HG00 mode for the pump laser beam in the forward detection scheme. The spectral and the orientation dependence of FE‐CARS are found to be in agreement with theoretical predictions. A brief discussion on the relevance of this technique for imaging third‐order nonlinear susceptibility interfaces in thin samples of biological or chemical importance is presented. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Techniques for Overcoming Sulfur Poisoning of Catalyst Employed in Hydrocarbon Reforming

Catalysis Surveys from Asia - Sulfur poisoning of catalyst is a well-known phenomenon observed during the production of syngas (CO?+?H2). The presence of traces of sulfur...     

Metal carbonates: alternative to metal oxides for supercapacitor applications? A case study of MnCO<Subscript>3</Subscript> vs MnO<Subscript>2</Subscript>

We report here the potential competency of MnCO₃ versus MnO₂ for supercapacitor applications. MnCO₃ was synthesized by a hydrothermal method using KMnO₄ as a manganese source and either sugar or pyrrole as carbon source. MnCO₃ synthesized using sugar and pyrrole as carbon source is referred hereafter as MnCO₃(s) and MnCO₃(p), respectively. The synthesized products were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopic and transmission electron microscopic studies. Microscopic studies revealed that MnO₂ possesses micro-flower-like morphology constructed by self-assembled nano-petals. While the morphology of MnCO₃(s) is sub-micron size particles of different shape, the morphology of MnCO₃(p) is crystalline particles of 10–20 nm dia. The capacitive characteristics of MnO₂, MnCO₃(s) and MnCO₃(p) were evaluated in aqueous 0.1 M Mg(ClO₄)₂ electrolyte between 0 and 1 V using cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge/discharge cycling. Specific capacitance (SC) values of 216 and 296 F g^?1 obtained for MnCO₃(s) and MnCO₃(p) are 35 and 85 % higher than SC value of 160 F g^?1 obtained for MnO₂, respectively. Besides better capacitive storage characteristics, MnCO₃(s) and MnCO₃(p) have also exhibited better rate capability and cycle life than MnO₂.     

Large-scale synthesis of perpendicularly aligned helical carbon nanotubes

Large-scale perpendicularly aligned helical carbon nanotube arrays were prepared by co-pyrolysis of Fe(CO)5 and pyridine onto the pristine quartz glass plates in a tube furnace at 900-1100 degrees C under a mixture flow of Ar and H2. The resultant aligned helical carbon nanotubes could not only facilitate the structure-property characterization for helical carbon nanotubes but also allow them to be effectively incorporated into devices for practical applications.